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Uber Self-Driving Cars Hit the Streets of San Francisco (go.com)
Uber is bringing a small number of self-driving cars to its ride-hailing service in San Francisco -- a move likely to excite the city's tech-savvy population and certain to antagonize California regulators. From a report on AP: The Wednesday launch in Uber's hometown expands a public pilot program the company started in Pittsburgh in September. The testing lets everyday people experience the cars as Uber works to identify glitches before expanding the technology's use in San Francisco and elsewhere. California law, however, requires a test permit for self-driving prototype vehicles, and Uber does not have one. The company argues that the law doesn't apply because its cars require a human backup. Uber has a history of testing legal boundaries. Although the company has been around less than a decade, it has argued with authorities around the world about how much of its drivers' histories should be covered in background checks and whether those drivers should be treated as contractors ineligible for employee benefits.
Seems like using "self-driving car" and "hit" in the same sentence might be a bad combination.
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
requires a test permit for self-driving prototype vehicles,
It is like the human test permit? Where you can flat out fail but they go "eh, we're backed up. Don't do that thing you failed for again". Can you goad it into violating the rules of the road because "They won't work for this intersection" like my BMV employee had me do?
>> Uber Self-Driving Cars Hit the Streets of San Francisco
Better than the pedestrians, amiright? Is this thing on?
No they didn't. These cars actually have TWO drivers in them. Stop with the self-driving cars hype. They don't exist.
No doubt every car will be its own LLC or a franchise owned by a separate person or stock company. Otherwise aren't they liable and if they own the fleet aren't they a taxi company? But driverless cars will be better for hook ups. Do the seats fold down? Though I guess they will need to have a camera on you the whole ride. (else vanadalism). maybe they will let you ride for free provided you let them stream your sex act to UberPorn amateur channel.
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
Now, just don't fuck it up and ruin it permanently for other players with the regulatory authorities by setting a bad precedent.
But instead it creates them. Self driving cars need two times more drivers than regular ones. Isn't future exciting?
The two guys in the front only take over if necessary to avoid a crash; but the car will drive itself most of the time. So they are self-driving.
What about the CEO doing hard time in san quentin when that unpermited car messes up?
LLC or a franchise owned will not save them in an criminal case and if uber try some EULA or NDA to not give out logs / let an Third-party exports / the state look at the code / logs then it can be contempt of court.
How long until we hear that there is no security built-in and these cars can be remotely operated from haxors?
Wash, (don't) rinse, repeat.
Time to break out the popcorn, sit back, and watch the fun on Lombard Street
licet differant, aequabitur
Under California law, it doesn't matter if there is a person sitting in the driver's seat or not. If the car is in "autonomous" mode (self-driving), then the manufacturer must get a testing permit. Uber is full of shit here and is likely trying to get around the $5 million dollar insurance requirement that California imposes on manufacturers testing autonomous vehicles on public roads.
Ho ho. A CEO in prison.
At least in some areas. There are areas of any city where these cars will be vandalized or stolen (whether just the wheels or the whole thing).
But I'm sure they'll have some use in theme parks such as Disney Land (no more waiting for a tram to the park).
Likewise, a 40 ton truck is never going to be unmanned. There's too much risk involved for safety as well as the cargo being stolen. That said, some self-driving features could be used to make it safer/better (an automated system to help with turns might work well).
the first of many headlines that say
"self driving car hits..."